Pink Martini
is a "little orchestra" [1] from Portland, Oregon, formed in 1994 by pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale. They blend genres of music such as Latin, lounge, classical, and jazz. Their music has often been described as "vintage music"[who?], a description which reflects the content, style and period that inspires many of their songs. Band leader, Thomas Lauderdale describes the band's sound as "music of the world without being world music. It's kind of like urban symphonic crossed with Cuban/Brazilian street Carnival parade, Breakfast at Tiffany's/United Nations kind of thing. The goal was to create the kind of records with which one would hopefully never grow tired of. Records that could be played whether you were sad or gleeful. Cleaning, vacuuming around the house or seducing somebody's grandmother." [2]
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PINK MARTINI TICKETS
| EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
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| Pink Martini & China Forbes Tickets 12/31 | Dec 31, 2024
Tue, 7:00 PM |  | | Pink Martini & China Forbes Tickets 12/31 | Dec 31, 2024
Tue, 10:30 PM | | | Pink Martini & China Forbes Tickets 1/3 | Jan 03, 2025
Fri, 7:30 PM | | | Pink Martini & China Forbes Tickets 1/4 | Jan 04, 2025
Sat, 7:30 PM | | | Pink Martini & China Forbes Tickets 1/5 | Jan 05, 2025
Sun, 2:00 PM | |
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Discography
- Sympathique
(1997) Wrasse Records
- Hang on Little Tomato
(2004) Wrasse Records
- Hey Eugene!
(2007) Wrasse Records
- Discover the World: Live in Concert (DVD)
(2009) Heinz Records
- Splendor in the Grass
(2009) Heinz Records
Expected release: October 2009.
History
Originally brought together to play political functions in Portland
, Pink Martini made its European debut at the
Cannes Film Festival.
Leading up to 2003, they toured several countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, Greece, Turkey, Peru, Taiwan, Lebanon and the United States, performing either by themselves or accompanied by various orchestras. The songs' lyrics involve different languages: Croatian, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic, and Modern Greek.
Pink Martini's debut album,
Sympathique
, was released on Pink Martini's own label, Heinz Records, in 1997. Over 1.3 million copies of the record have been sold worldwide.
[3] The song of the same name is also featured on Putumayo World Music "World Lounge" CD.
In October 2004, the group released its second album,
Hang on Little Tomato
. In the transition from its first to its second album, guest-singer
Pepe Raphael left to concentrate on his other band,
Pepe and the Bottle Blondes. Lead singer
China Forbes continued to write songs with Lauderdale.
Pink Martini songs appear in such films as
In the Cut
,
Nurse Betty
,
Josie and the Pussycats
,
Tortilla Soup
,
Shanghai Kiss
and
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
, and have been used on television shows such as
Dead Like Me
,
The Sopranos
and
The West Wing
, among others. The song "No Hay Problema" is included as background/setup music for
Microsoft's
Windows Server 2003 and was also used as the background/setup music for an early build of
Windows Longhorn, now known as
Windows Vista.
On New Year's Eve 2005, Pink Martini performed live at the
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon. This performance was aired live on
National Public Radio's
Toast of the Nation
, and was recorded for a live DVD and later broadcast on US public broadcasting and French television. The DVD has been rereleased as
Discover the World: Live in Concert
, featuring not only the full concert, but several vignettes and a short documentary of the band's history.
Because Pink Martini has a larger-than-average membership, the group had trouble finding venues in other cities to play. With the help of a friend,
Norman Leyden, it started performing with various orchestras across the nation. On
June 1, 2007, the band appeared on the long-running
BBC Two Later with Jools Holland
TV music program. In mid-September 2007, the group returned to the Hollywood Bowl for three performances that included guest performers
Carol Channing and
Henri Salvador.
On June 14, 2007, Pink Martini performed on
Late Show with David Letterman
, performing "Hey Eugene".
[4]
Pink Martini played Walt Disney Concert Hall on New Year's Eve for the first two years it was open (2003/4 and 2004/5). They returned to play NYE there again in 2008/9.
Pink Martini recorded live during three performances at the
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with the
Oregon Symphony between May 31st and June 2nd, 2009. An album of the performances is expected Spring 2010.
Their fourth studio album,
Splendor in the Grass
is due out October 2009.
References
- About Pink Martini from their official website
- Discover the World
- ''"Make mine Martini"'', ''Portland Tribune'', retrieved May 15 2007.
- Late Show with David Letterman - 14x163 John Cusack, Pink Martini, Turkey Gobbling Champions - shareTV.org